Cathode-ray device for indicating the axis of a symmetrical signal



J. F. CRAIB Dec. 2, 1947.

CATHODE-RAY DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE AXIS OF A SYMMETRICAL SIGNAL Original Filed Sept. 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, JAMES F. CRMB Patented Dec. 2, 1947 CATHODE-RAY DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE AXIS OF A SYMIMETRICAL SIGNAL James F. Craib, Flushing, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments. to Hazeltine Research, Inc., I a corporation of Illinois Original application September 20,1943, Serial No. 503,073. Divided and this application ctober 2, 1945, Serial No. 619,755

Claims. (CL 315-24) This invention is directed to cathode-ray type indicating arrangements for sharply indicating the axis of symmetry of an applied substantially symmetrical signal. The invention is subject to a variety of applications but it will be described in detail in connection with a radiated-signal direction finder. The direction finder to be considered forms the subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 503,073, filed September 20, 1943, in the name of James F. Craib, from which this application has been divided.

For some purposes it is highly desirable that a radiated-signal direction finder provide a quick, accurate and readily discernible direction or bearing indication with complete freedom from the necessity of manipulation of control elements when the device is in operation. The signals which are received from a radio transmitter by a direction finder are often short in duration so that the response 01' the direction finder must be quick and reliable in order that the direction of reception of the received signal can be precisely determined during the short intervals of transmission.

Prior art arrangements have been proposed which provide a direction indication by the use of line-tracing devices or indicating arrangements which generate intersecting lines or patterns in such a manner that a crossover point in the lines or patterns designates the direction of the received signal. A representative device of this character forms the subject matter of United States Letters Patent 2,407,281, granted September 10, 1946, to John Kelly Johnson et a1. and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. Direction finders of the type mentioned above have proved generally satisfactory, but ithas been discovered that substantially the same result can be accomplished by the present invention with a more simple circuit arrangement.

It is, therefore, an object 01' the invention to provide an improved and simplified cathode-ray type indicating arrangement especially suited for use in a radiated-signal direction finder of the type under consideration.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved cathode-ray type indicating arrangement for sharply indicatingv the, axis of symmetry of an applied and substantially symmetrical signal.

In accordance with the invention, a cathoderay type indicating arrangement comprises a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device and means for normally controlling the cathode ray of the device to trace a predetermined line. The arrangement includes means responsive to the amplitude of an applied signal having an axis of substantial symmetry for shifting the line traced by the line-tracing device in accordance therewith to trace a signal pattern having a corre-- sponding axis of substantial symmetry. Additionally, the system includes means for producing a magnetic field for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any signal pattern traced by the line-tracing device to cause the device to trace a pair of intersecting patterns the intersections of which sharply indicate the aforesaid axis of symmetry. The magnetic field is so produced as to have the same law of distribution over areas which are symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry indicated by any of the traced signal patterns and in which areas the incremental displacements are efiected.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a radiated-signal direction finder including an indicating arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 1a represents a field distribution and Fig..

1b comprises curves used in describing the operation of the direction finder of Fig. 1; and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 individually illustrate direction-indicating patterns which may be produced by the indicating arrangement of Fig. 1 to provide a bearing indication of a received signal.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the radiated-signal direction finder there represented comprises a receiving pick-up, or antenna, system having a directive pattern in space. This pick-up system is provided by a dipole antenna I0, H and a reflector l2. The direction finder includes means for controlling the pick-up system to cause its directive pattern to rotate, such means comprising a motor l3 mechanically coupled, as indicated by the broken line, to the antenna system l0, II and its associated reflector l2. The signal output of antenna system III, II is applied to a first receiving system through a pair of inductively-coupled loops i8 and I9, loop l9 being stationary and loop I8 being driven about its axis by motor l3, as indicated by the broken line H, with the antenna system-i0. H and. its associated reflector l2. The

receiving system which is thus coupled to antenna system IO, N comprises, in cascade, a radiofrequency amplifier 20 of one or more stages, a frequency changer or oscillator-modulator 2|, an intermediate-frequency amplifier 22 of one or more stages, and a rectifier 23.

The arrangement represented in Fig. 1 also embodies an indicating arrangement in accordance with the present invention. It includes a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device having suitablebeam-defiecting means for controlling the cathode-ray beam of the device to trace a predetermined line on a target electrode, or fluorescent screen l6. Such beam-deflecting means may be of any known type but, as shown, comprise a pair of windings 24, 24 and 25, 25 arranged in a conventional manner to deflect the beam of device |5 in two directions normal to each other. The fluorescent screen I6 is preferably of the long persistence type to cause the patterns traced thereon, in a manner completely described hereinafter, to be sustained and clearly definite. The observation end of tube I5 is provided with a suitable compass scale to facilitate obtaining direct bearing indications from the pattern produced on screen l6. Such a compass scale is shown in Fig. 2.

The direction finder is also provided with means for normally controlling the cathode ray of device l5 to trace the aforementioned predetermined line in synchronism with the rotation oi the directive pattern of antenna system I0, I I. This means includes a voltage-generating device, such as a permanent magnet 26, rotated about its axis in synchronism with the antenna rotation by motor l3, as indicated by the broken line l4. Magnet 26 rotates within a pair of stationary. angularly disposed windings 21 and 28 preferably having a space-quadrature relationship. The signals induced in windings 21 and 28, to be described more particularly hereinafter, are applied to beam-deflecting windings 24, 24 and 25, 25, respectively, normally to control the beam of tube l5 synchronously with the antenna rotation, these signals being applied to such deflecting windings through radius modulators 29' and 29 and amplifiers 30' and 30, respectively.

One input circuit of each radius modulator 29 and 29' is coupled to the outputcircuit of rectifier 23 included in the aforedescribed receiving system, thereby to provide means responsive to the amplitude of a signal received by the rotating pick-up system IO, U for shifting the line traced by line-tracing device I5 in accordance therewith.

Since the antenna system IO, N has a directive pattern in space, the orientation of which varies relative to the direction of reception of a desired signal, the amplitude of the signal applied to the receiving system consisting of units 20-23, inelusive, varies in accordance with this relative orientation and also in accordance with the amplitude or field strength of the radiated signal being received. In order substantialy to eliminate the amplitude variations of the received signal which are attributable to variations of the field strength of the radiated signal. a control system is provided for the receiver just described. This control system fprms he subiect matter of application Serial No, 423516. filed December 18, 1941, in the name of Harold A. Wheeler and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. and comprises a sec nd an enna system 45 having a radiation patte n which is much less directive than that of the first antenna system ill, Preferably, antenna system 45 is nondirective and, as illustrated in the drawings, com- I system is capacitively coupled through a rotating plate 46 and a stationary plate 41 to the input circuit of a separate receiving channel designed to derive a control effect which varies primarily in accordance with the amplitude or field strength of the radiated signal being received. This lastnamed channel comprises, in cascade, a radiofrequency amplifier 48 of one or more stages, a frequency changer or oscillator-modulator 49, an intermediate-frequency amplifier 50 of one or more stages, a detector and automatic volume control or A. V. C. rectifier 5|, an audio-frequency amplifier 52 of one or more stages, and a signalreproducing device 53. A voltage from the A. V. C. rectifier in unit 5| is applied to one or more of the tubes of stages 48, 49 and 50 to maintain the amplitude of the signal input to detector 5| within a relatively narrow range for a wide range of received signal intensities. Additionally, the A. V. C. rectifier in unit 5| is utilized to control the gain of stages 20, 2| and 22 to maintain the amplitude of the signal input to rectifier 23 within a relatively narrow range for a wide amplitude range of the radiated signal which is being received. A suitable tuning indicator is preferably provided for the two receivers 20-23, inclusive, and 48-53, inclusive, which may comprise a high resistance voltmeter 55 coupled across the A. V. C. source of unit 5|.

The radiated-signal direction finder also comprises means for providing an alternating magnetic field for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any directive pattern traced by line-tracing device |5 to cause that device to trace a pair of intersecting patterns such that the intersections of those patterns on the fluorescent screen I6 sharply indicate the direction of reception of the received signal. This means comprises a winding included as an element of a tuned circuit and preferably disposed about the neck portion of cathode-ray tube I5 between the deflecting windings 24, 24 and 25, 25 and the fluorescent screen l6. Winding 60 is energized by oscillations having a sinusoidal wave form supplied thereto from an oscillator 6| by means of a power amplifier 62. The frequency of the exciting oscillations, as will become apparent hereinafter, determines the frequency at which the traced directive pattern is cyclically displaced. Preferably, the operating frequency of oscillator 6| is so adjusted that the displacement frequency is high with reference to the rotational frequency of antenna system In, II.

The embodiment of the invention under consideration further includes means for deriving a control effect having a predetermined frequency relation with reference to the cyclical displacement of the directive pattern traced by line-tracing device I5. Preferably, the control effect has a frequency corres onding to twice the frequency of such cyclical displacement and is utilized to control the brightness of predetermined portions of the pattern traced on screen I6. The means employed in deriving this control effect comprises a pick-up winding 63, positioned coaxially with and in abutting relationship to winding 60 so as to be inductively coupled thereto. Winding 63 is coupled to the control electrode of cathode-ray tube l5 through a full-wave rectifier 64 and an amplifier and clipper .65.

In considering the operation of the described direction finder, let it be assumed initially that motor l8is rotating the antenna system I0, I I

with its associated reflector l2 and magnet 28 about their respective axes and that no radiated signal is being intercepted by the antenna system. For this condition no signal output is obtained from rectifier 23 of the first-described receiver. However, the rotation of magnet 26 induces in each of windings 21 and 28 signals having a sinusoidal wave form and a frequency corresponding to that of the antenna rotation. These induced signals, due to the space-quadrature relatlonship of windings 21 and 28, have a timeapplication of these induced signals through radius modulators 29 and 29' and amplifiers 30 and 30 to the beamdefiecting windings 24, 24 and 25, 25 of linetracing device l5 causes the cathode ray of device 15 normally to tracea predetermined line, 81360111.

cally a circular line, in synchronism with the rotation of the antenna directive pattern. However, when no signal is applied to radius modulators 29 and 29' from rectifier 23, as for the operating condition under consideration, the radius modulators are substantially blocked so that the beam of tube=15 develops a spot or a very small circle near the center of screen it and is substantially unaflected by the alternating magnetic field produced by windingill, more fully receiver, thereby to derive in the output circuit of rectifier 23 a unidirectional signalhaving amthe radius of the circle, normally traced by the beam of line-tracing device IS in accordance with the amplitude variations of the signal output from 'rectifier'23 to trace thev directive pattern of antenna system III, II. Such a directive pattern is illustrated by broken-line curve A of Fig. 2.

A direction indication of the received signal is produced by this pattern, the indication compristo have a bearing of due north.-

The precise location of crest c of curve A is not easily ascertained. However, in accordance with the present invention, the beam-displacing arrangement including winding 60 is effective to produce a pair of intersecting directive patterns,

Considering now specifically the influence of inding 60 on the described operation of linetracing device I5, it will be seen that the excitawinding by oscillator 6| establishes an magnetic field within tube l5. At a particular instant this field has the distribution with reference to the aforedescribed circular path normally traced by the electron beam of tube l5, as represented schematically in Fig. 1a. In this figure, such circular path of the electron beam ed e and the field of winding 60 is represented conventionally. by the small dots f. It will be apparent that the magnetic field ,f has a uniform angular distribution about the center 0 responding to that of by oscillator 6i In the preferred embodiment of the invention under consideration it is found desirable to suppress the beam of line-tracing device l5 during displacement. This is trol efiect applied to the control electrode of linecurve A produced displacing arrangement including winding 80.

By virtue of such equal and opposite displace- I sponding portions the beam. This narrow,

ments, the intersections of traces B and .8 fall direction indication along the above-mentioned -0 and thus afford a precise and easily discernible direction indication of the received signal.

While curves B and B are shown in full-line construction, in reality they comprise a series of interrupted or broken lines due to the periodic displacement of the beam of line-tracing device I! and the blocking of this device except during intervals of maximum beam displacement. However, since the displacement frequency is high with reference to the frequency of antenna rotation; the long persistence of the fluorescent material of screen l8 causes the curves to have the appearance of continuous lines or traces as represented.

The magnetic field established by winding 60 has thus far been described as having a uniform angular distribution about the center of the circular line e (Fig. 1a). Since the produced direction indication comprisesa radial line o-c, this field may likewise be described as having the same law of distribution over areas, symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the direction indication of any traced directive pattern, in which areas the incremental beam displacement iseffected. Even though the antenna system ill, H does not have perfect symmetry with reference to any particular axis, in general, the d'rection indication will be found to comprise a radial line, as o--c already described. The invention may be utilized in such a case by providing a. magnetic field having the aforedescribed distribution with reference to the direction indication of any traced pattern for effecting equal and opposite cyclical displacements of the beam.

In a modification of the invention, a rectangular-wave exciting means may be employed in lieu of the sine-wave oscillator 6i and the power amplifier 62 to displace the directive pattern with a sudden or snap action, thereby rendering unnecessary the means for providing the previously mentioned control effect to suppress the beam of the cathode-ray tube.

Patterns of different configuration may be' traced by the described direction finder, each of which provides a visual indication of the direction of reception of a received signal. The outline and general appearance of these patterns will depend, among other factors, on the directive characteristic of the antenna i0, Ii, the frequency and amplitude of the oscillations applied to winding 60. and the nature of the control effect or bias applied to the grid of cathode-ray tube i5.

In Fig. 3 there appear two directive patterns or response curves having a single overlapping area M. In producing these curves a smaller current is utilized in the winding 60 than that used to obtain the curves of Fig. 2, the decreased current reducing the angular displacement of correof the intersecting patterns. When a fixed operating bias is applied to the cathode-ray tube i5, and the units for deriving the described control effect including pick-up coil 63 are omitted, the electron beam has constant in-' tensity during the tracing of the intersecting patterns. Accordingly, the outer edges, as well as the inner areas of the pattern, appear luminous with the exception of the narrow overlapping area M which remains dark since it is not sensitized by pointed dark space is aligned with the direction of the incoming signal and designates the bearing thereof.

Another modified pattern is illustrated in Fig. 4

- derived by still further reducing the current in winding 60. The pair of antenna response curves included in this modified pattern have a considerable overlapping area comprising a central dark portion 0. This dark area extends in the direction of the received signal, and the tip of the intersecting patterns is more brightly illuminated, the contrast thereof thus providing a convenient reference point to secure a direction indication.

If desired. when a rectangular-wave exciting means is utilized to excite winding. 80, as hereinbefore suggested, the operating frequency thereof may be adiusted to half the rotational frequency of antenna system III, II. In such a case, linetracing device II will again produce the described pair of intersecting patterns B and B, one such pattern being completely traced-in a single rotation of the antenna system. operation the long persistence screen l6 may be relied upon effectively to produce intersecting patterns, the intersections of which sharply indicate the desired signal bearing. It will be understood that the expression means for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any directive pattern traced by the linetracing device," as utilized in the appended claims, is intended to include this operation of the direction finder.

Furthermore, the deflecting elements provided for cathode-ray tube I! need not necessarily cause the electron beam normally to traverse a circular path. It will be apparent that in a modified arrangement the beam may be controlled normally to trace a line laterally across the screen of the tube. In such a modification, however,

winding 60 will be replaced by suitable means for providing a magnetic field having the aforedescribed d stribution with reference to the direction indication producted by any directive pattern normaly traced by the line-tracing device for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of the traced directive pattern.

The cathode-ray indicating arrangement of Fig. 1 has been particularly described in association with an antenna system having a symmetrical directive pattern. It will be evident that in the reception of a radiated signal, the output signal of rectifier 23 represents this directive pattern and accordingly has an axis of substantial symmetry. The signal pattern traced by cathoderay tube IS in response to the output of rectifier 23 has a corresponding axis of symmetry, indicated H in the drawing and representing the desired bearing indication as well as the axis of symmetry of the signal output of rectifier 23. It will be further apparent that the oscillations generated by oscillator 6|, which have a. high frequency as compared with the antenna rotation, have a periodicity short with respect to the period of the signal derived in rectifier 23 during intervals of wave-signal reception.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore. aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device, means for normally controlling the cathode ray of said device to trace apredetermined line, means responsiveto the amplitude of an applied For this suggested signal having an axis of shifting the line traced areas said incremental displacements are eifected. 2. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracing deaxis of symmetry, said magnetic field having the displacements are effected.

4. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device, means for normally controlling the cathode over areas which are symmetrically spaced on op-' axis of symmetry indicated by areas said 1 si nal Patterns and in which incrementar displacements are efany or said traced Iected.

5. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising a cathode-ray tube line-tracing deareas said incremental displacements are affected. 6. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement cathode-ray tube line-tracing desaid axis of symmetry, said magdistribution ,of said applied signal, means traced by said device for controlling the brightness of predetermined portions of said signal patterns traced by said device.

8. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device, means for normally controlling the cathode ray of said device to trace a predetermined line, means responsive to the amplitude of an applied signal having an axis of substantial symmetry for shifting the line traced by said device in accordance therewith to trace a signal pattern having a corresponding axis of substantial symmetry, a signal generator for supplying oscillations having a periodicity short with respect to the period forutilizing said oscillations to produce an alternating magnetic field for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any signal pattern traced by said device to cause said device to trace a pair of intersecting patterns the intersections of which sharply indicate said axis of symmetry, said magnetic field having the same law of distribution over areas which are symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry indicated by any of said traced signal patterns and in which areas said incremental displacements are effected, and means including a fullwave rectifier for developing from said oscillations a control effect having a frequency corresponding to twice the frequency of said cyclical displacements. for controlling the brightness of predetermined portions of said signal patterns traced by said device.

9. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracingdevice having a control electrode, means for normally controlling the cathode ray of said device to trace a predetermined line, means responsive to the amplitude of an applied signal having an axis of substantial symmetry for shifting the line traced by said device in accordance therewith to trace a signal pattern having a corresponding axis of substantial symmetry, a signal generator for supplying oscillations of sinusoidal wave form having a periodicity short with respect to the period of said applied signal, means for utilizing said oscillations to produce an alternating magnetic field for cyclically effecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any signal pattern traced by said device to cause said device to trace a pair of intersecting patterns the intersections of which sharply indicate said axis of symmetry, said magnetic field having the same law of distribution over areas which are symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry indicated by any of said traced signal patterns and in which areas said incremental displacements are effected, means including a full-wave rectifier for developing a control signal having peak amplitude values occurring in time coincidence with the peak amplitude values of said oscillations, and means for applying said control signal to said control electrode of said cathode-ray tube to control the brightness of predetermined portions of said signal patterns traced by said device.

10. A cathode-ray type indicating arrangement comprising, a cathode-ray tube line-tracing device having a control electrode, means for normally controlling to trace a predetermined line, means responsive to the amplitude of an applied signal having an axis of substantial symmetry for shifting the line traced by said device in accordance therewith to trace a signal pattern having a corresponding axis of substantial symmetry, a signal generator for supplying oscillations of sinusoidal wave form having a periodicity short with respect to the period of said applied signal, a winding disposed about said cathode-ray tube and excited by said oscillations for producing an alternating magnetic field for cyclically efiecting equal and opposite incremental displacements of any signal pattern traced by said device to cause said device to trace a pair of intersecting patterns the intersections of which sharply indicate said axis of symmetry, said magnetic field having the same law of distribution over areas which are symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry indicated by any of said traced signal patterns and in which areas said incremental displacements are effected, means including a full-wave rectifier having an input circuit magnetically coupled to said winding for developing a control signal having peak amplitude values occurring in time coincidence with the peak amplitude values of said oscillations, and means for applying said control signal to said control electrode of said cathode-ray tube to control the brightness of predetermined portions of said signal patterns traced by said device.

JAMES F. CRAIB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number the cathode ray of said device 

